Patents by Inventor Masao Kimura

Masao Kimura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11784593
    Abstract: A power supply controller works to control electrical power supplied to a surroundings monitor including an in-vehicle camera and an image processor which monitors surroundings of a vehicle using an output from the in-vehicle camera. The power supply controller includes a voltage monitor which determines whether an operating voltage for the image processor lies in a normal voltage range and an abnormal voltage range. Until a given threshold changing condition is met after start of power supply to the surroundings monitor, the voltage monitor alters at least one of an upper limit threshold and a lower limit threshold of the normal voltage range to decrease a difference between the upper and lower limit thresholds to be lower than that after the given threshold changing condition is satisfied. This ensures the stability in supplying electrical power to the surroundings monitor without restricting an operation of the surroundings monitor more than required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Patent number: 11671560
    Abstract: An in-vehicle camera is provided which includes an imager equipped with a lens, a control board on which a circuit is mounted to control an operation of the imager, a flexible cable connecting the imager and the control board to be communicable therebetween, and an electrically conductive housing in which the imager, the flexible cable, and the control board are arranged. A spacer which is designed to have neither electromagnetic wave absorption nor electromagnetic wave reflection properties is arranged away from the control board in a contactless manner and located between the flexible cable and an inner surface of the housing to form a gap therebetween. This minimizes generation of noise transmitted from the housing to inside the vehicle without sacrificing the quality of electrical signals transmitted through a circuit in the flexible cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Kimura, Nobuhisa Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11635795
    Abstract: A power supply system includes first and second power supply lines to respectively connect positive and negative electrode terminals of a load with a main power supply. First and second voltage detection lines are respectively connected to the first and second power supply lines via first and second resistances. First and second inspection power supplies respectively supply power and provide potential differences to the first and second voltage detection lines from the first and second power supply lines. Occurrence of a short circuit in one of the first and second voltage detection lines is recognized when corresponding one of the first and second inspection power supplies supplies power and a difference between a preset voltage and a voltage caused between the first and second voltage detection lines is a threshold value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Publication number: 20220263440
    Abstract: A power supply controller works to control electrical power supplied to a surroundings monitor including an in-vehicle camera and an image processor which monitors surroundings of a vehicle using an output from the in-vehicle camera. The power supply controller includes a voltage monitor which determines whether an operating voltage for the image processor lies in a normal voltage range and an abnormal voltage range. Until a given threshold changing condition is met after start of power supply to the surroundings monitor, the voltage monitor alters at least one of an upper limit threshold and a lower limit threshold of the normal voltage range to decrease a difference between the upper and lower limit thresholds to be lower than that after the given threshold changing condition is satisfied. This ensures the stability in supplying electrical power to the surroundings monitor without restricting an operation of the surroundings monitor more than required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventor: Masao KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20220261307
    Abstract: A monitoring-data processing method is executable by at least one processor included in a monitoring-data processing system that includes a control apparatus that retrieves monitoring data indicative of a surrounding of a vehicle. The monitoring-data processing method includes performing processing of the monitoring data retrieved by the control apparatus, and determining whether there is a malfunction in the monitoring-data processing system. The monitoring-data processing method additionally includes performing, in response to a malfunction determination that there is a malfunction in the monitoring-data processing system, a task of (i) switching the control apparatus to be in a reset state and thereafter (ii) restarting the control apparatus while holding data indicative of the malfunction in an internal storage of the control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Patent number: 11272111
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a vehicle speed obtainer obtains vehicle speed information indicative of a speed of a vehicle. A deactivation controller determines whether the speed of the vehicle represented by the vehicle speed information is equal to or lower than a speed-related deactivation threshold previously determined for a target device. The target device is a selected one of first and second imaging devices. The selected one of the first and second imaging devices has one of first and second angular fields of view smaller than the other of the first and second angular fields of view. The deactivation controller deactivates a capture operation of the target device upon determination that the speed of the vehicle represented by the vehicle speed information is equal to or lower than the speed-related deactivation threshold previously determined for the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Patent number: 11233938
    Abstract: In a power management apparatus communicable with a controller of an electrical load via a communication interface, the power management apparatus includes a control power generator configured to generate control power and supply the control power to the controller, and a reset terminal connected to the controller. The power management apparatus includes a reset control circuit configured to transmit a reset control signal from the reset terminal to the controller for controlling resetting of the controller, and a storage unit accessible by the controller via the communication interface. The power management apparatus includes a check unit configured to check for a state of the reset terminal, and store a checked result of the state of the reset terminal in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Patent number: 11210030
    Abstract: In a data storage control device for writing data into a first memory that is non-volatile memory, an information receipt unit receives voltage-related information from a power source control device. A condition determination unit determines whether a voltage condition is satisfied. When the condition determination unit determines that the voltage condition is satisfied during execution of a writing process, a memory controller determines whether a predetermined storage condition is satisfied. When the storage condition is not satisfied, the memory controller executes a first response process of withdrawing writing residual data into the first memory but setting a validity flag as invalid. When the storage condition is satisfied, the memory controller executes a second response process of writing the residual data into the first memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyo Taguchi, Masao Kimura
  • Publication number: 20210368132
    Abstract: An in-vehicle camera is provided which includes an imager equipped with a lens, a control board on which a circuit is mounted to control an operation of the imager, a flexible cable connecting the imager and the control board to be communicable therebetween, and an electrically conductive housing in which the imager, the flexible cable, and the control board are arranged. A spacer which is designed to have neither electromagnetic wave absorption nor electromagnetic wave reflection properties is arranged away from the control board in a contactless manner and located between the flexible cable and an inner surface of the housing to form a gap therebetween. This minimizes generation of noise transmitted from the housing to inside the vehicle without sacrificing the quality of electrical signals transmitted through a circuit in the flexible cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Masao KIMURA, Nobuhisa SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 11063507
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a power source unit and a control unit. The power source unit includes a first inductor, a second inductor different from the first inductor, and a switching unit that performs switching so that one of the first and the second inductor is used. The power source unit is capable of operating in a first operation mode or a second operation mode different from the first operation mode. The control unit determines which one of the first and the second operation modes the power source unit is caused to operate in, and causes the switching unit to perform switching so that the first inductor is used in the power source unit when operating in the first operation mode and the second inductor is used in the power source unit when operating in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Kimura, Izumi Kaburagi
  • Publication number: 20210041931
    Abstract: A power supply system includes first and second power supply lines to respectively connect positive and negative electrode terminals of a load with a main power supply. First and second voltage detection lines are respectively connected to the first and second power supply lines via first and second resistances. First and second inspection power supplies respectively supply power and provide potential differences to the first and second voltage detection lines from the first and second power supply lines. Occurrence of a short circuit in one of the first and second voltage detection lines is recognized when corresponding one of the first and second inspection power supplies supplies power and a difference between a preset voltage and a voltage caused between the first and second voltage detection lines is a threshold value or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventor: Masao KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200401351
    Abstract: In a data storage control device for writing data into a first memory that is non-volatile memory, an information receipt unit receives voltage-related information from a power source control device. A condition determination unit determines whether a voltage condition is satisfied. When the condition determination unit determines that the voltage condition is satisfied during execution of a writing process, a memory controller determines whether a predetermined storage condition is satisfied. When the storage condition is not satisfied, the memory controller executes a first response process of withdrawing writing residual data into the first memory but setting a validity flag as invalid. When the storage condition is satisfied, the memory controller executes a second response process of writing the residual data into the first memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Akiyo TAGUCHI, Masao KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200374465
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a vehicle speed obtainer obtains vehicle speed information indicative of a speed of a vehicle. A deactivation controller determines whether the speed of the vehicle represented by the vehicle speed information is equal to or lower than a speed-related deactivation threshold previously determined for a target device. The target device is a selected one of first and second imaging devices. The selected one of the first and second imaging devices has one of first and second angular fields of view smaller than the other of the first and second angular fields of view. The deactivation controller deactivates a capture operation of the target device upon determination that the speed of the vehicle represented by the vehicle speed information is equal to or lower than the speed-related deactivation threshold previously determined for the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Publication number: 20200304712
    Abstract: In a power management apparatus communicable with a controller of an electrical load via a communication interface, the power management apparatus includes a control power generator configured to generate control power and supply the control power to the controller, and a reset terminal connected to the controller. The power management apparatus includes a reset control circuit configured to transmit a reset control signal from the reset terminal to the controller for controlling resetting of the controller, and a storage unit accessible by the controller via the communication interface. The power management apparatus includes a check unit configured to check for a state of the reset terminal, and store a checked result of the state of the reset terminal in the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Masao KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200274436
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a power source unit and a control unit. The power source unit includes a first inductor, a second inductor different from the first inductor, and a switching unit that performs switching so that one of the first and the second inductor is used. The power source unit is capable of operating in a first operation mode or a second operation mode different from the first operation mode. The control unit determines which one of the first and the second operation modes the power source unit is caused to operate in, and causes the switching unit to perform switching so that the first inductor is used in the power source unit when operating in the first operation mode and the second inductor is used in the power source unit when operating in the second operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Masao Kimura, Izumi Kaburagi
  • Patent number: 10753889
    Abstract: Provided are a cell for X-ray analysis and an X-ray analysis apparatus that enable simultaneous X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements of a material (sample) in the same field of view on the sample (same position on the sample). The cell for X-ray analysis of the present invention enables simultaneous X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements of a sample in the same field of view on the sample and includes a furnace including a space where the sample is held and a focused heater heating the sample, a first window provided to the furnace and through which X-rays directed at the sample is incident, a second window provided to the furnace and from which X-rays emerging from the sample exit, a third window provided to the furnace, and a holder that positions the sample in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION HIGH ENERGY ACCELERATOR RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
    Inventors: Ken'ichi Kimijima, Masao Kimura, Daiji Asahara, Yasuhiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 10609261
    Abstract: There is provided an optical camera to be mounted on vehicles. The optical camera includes a housing, a camera module held in the housing, and a radio communication unit held in the housing. In the optical camera, the radio communication unit is configured to transmit image data produced by the camera module to the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masao Kimura
  • Publication number: 20190260916
    Abstract: There is provided an optical camera to be mounted on vehicles. The optical camera includes a housing, a camera module held in the housing, and a radio communication unit held in the housing. In the optical camera, the radio communication unit is configured to transmit image data produced by the camera module to the outside of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventor: Masao KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190145915
    Abstract: Provided are a cell for X-ray analysis and an X-ray analysis apparatus that enable simultaneous X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements of a material (sample) in the same field of view on the sample (same position on the sample). The cell for X-ray analysis of the present invention enables simultaneous X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements of a sample in the same field of view on the sample and includes a furnace including a space where the sample is held and a focused heater heating the sample, a first window provided to the furnace and through which X-rays directed at the sample is incident, a second window provided to the furnace and from which X-rays emerging from the sample exit, a third window provided to the furnace, and a holder that positions the sample in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Inter-University Research Institute Corporation High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
    Inventors: Ken'ichi Kimijima, Masao Kimura, Daiji Asahara, Yasuhiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 10074857
    Abstract: A titanium or titanium alloy material for a separator of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having high contact conductivity with carbon and high durability, and including an oxide film formed on a titanium or titanium alloy substrate by a stabilization treatment performed after a passivation treatment, and one or more kinds of conductive materials selected from carbide, nitride, carbonitride, and boride of tantalum, titanium, vanadium, zirconium, and chromium, the conductive materials being dispersed in the oxide film and having a major axis diameter of from 1 nm to 100 nm. A contact resistance value with a carbon paper is 20 m?·cm2 or less at a surface pressure of 10 kgf/cm2 before and after an accelerated deterioration test in which the titanium or titanium alloy material is immersed in a sulfuric acid aqueous solution having an adjusted pH of 4 at 80° C. for four days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kihira, Yuuichi Yosida, Taku Kagawa, Takumi Nishimoto, Koki Tanaka, Masao Kimura, Kiyonori Tokuno, Kazuhiro Takahashi, Takashi Domoto